Lessons Learned at AFP ICON: Navigating AI in the Nonprofit Sector

Last week I had the privilege of delivering a new talk — “Anyone Can Raise $1M or More in Any Economy – Even You!” — at the Association of Fundraising Professionals International Conference (AFP ICON).

The talk shares real stories of fundraisers who overcame serious hurdles and raised millions — not through magic, but through simple, repeatable strategies for deepening donor engagement. My goal was to make it both inspiring and immediately actionable, and the response from the audience was incredibly encouraging.

But I wasn’t only on stage. I also spent time in the audience, and several sessions on AI caught my attention.

9 Questions for Nonprofits to Navigate AI

At Capital Campaign Pro, we’re working hard to help our clients use AI in thoughtful, ethical, and impactful ways. So I was eager to learn what sector leaders are thinking about right now. The conversations didn’t disappoint.

Here are the key questions that repeatedly came up across those sessions. They are questions every nonprofit should be asking:

1. Do we have a policy around AI use? Who in your organization is authorized to use AI tools, and for what purposes?
2. What is our generative AI optimization strategy? Are we being intentional about how AI fits into our workflows or just reacting?
3. How are we vetting AI vendors? Not all AI tools are built equally. What’s your process for evaluating them before bringing them into the fold?
4. Where do we need help, and how might AI assist? TIP: Start with your pain points, not the technology.
5. If we’re recording and transcribing meetings, are we asking for consent? This is both a legal and an ethical question. Don’t skip it.
6. If we’re using AI-generated content, do we have appropriate disclaimers in place? Protecting your organization matters, especially as AI tools evolve.
7. If we’re storing donor or constituent data, are we working with vendors committed to privacy? Strong data protections aren’t optional — they’re a trust issue with your donors.
8. What AI is already baked into the systems we use? You may be using AI without realizing it. It’s time to find out.
9. What AI tools could you try in the next 90 days? A short-term, low-stakes experiment is often the best way to learn.

What to Do With These Questions

I don’t have all the answers, and honestly, no one does right now. But that’s exactly why these conversations need to happen — before decisions get made by default.

Bring these questions to your board, both one-on-one and as a group. Put them on the agenda at your next staff meeting. Consider asking a particularly tech-savvy team member to dig in and report back.

And don’t overlook your donors: a few well-connected supporters may have real expertise here and would welcome the chance to contribute.

AI Helps Humans Do More Meaningful Nonprofit Work

AI is reshaping how nonprofits operate. It’s helping organizations become more effective, more efficient, and more focused on the deeply human work that only people can do. The organizations that engage with it thoughtfully now will be better positioned for everything ahead.

How are you using AI at your organization? I’d love to hear what’s working and what questions you’re still sitting with. Share in the comments below.

And, in full disclosure, I used AI to help improve this post. 😉

More Personal Insight from AFP ICON…

I shared some additional storytelling insight gained at AFP ICON on the Capital Campaign Pro blog — take a look!